Implementation of packet-based communications in a reconfigurable hardware element

Abstract

In some embodiments, a user may select an elemental function such as read, write, or configuration from a graphical programming environment. A file may be created that instantiates functionality into a programmable hardware element to allow it to send a command across a serial protocol to peripheral interface circuitry and ultimately to peripheral chips (e.g., network chips on a CAN). The elemental node concept may be generic to any network chip because the node may contain only the general data of a packet (e.g., command type, value of data bytes, etc). The actual interface to a network chip may be handled inside the peripheral interface circuitry. The peripheral interface circuitry may have the details of the network chip in which it interfaces and may abstract details of the network chip from the target programmable hardware element through the serial protocol.

Description

PRIORITY [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 601,820 titled “Representation of a Communications Packet in a Reprogrammable Graphical Programming Environment”, which was filed Aug. 16, 2004, whose inventors are Timothy A. Stelzer, William R. Pitts, Rodney Cummings, Brian Keith Odom, and Craig M. Conway which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of graphical programming, and more particularly to a system and method for representing a communications packet in a reprogrammable graphical programming environment. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART [0003] Traditionally, high level text-based programming languages have been used by programmers in writing application programs. Many different high level text-based programming languages exist, including BASIC, C, C++, Java, FORTRAN, Pascal, COBOL, ADA, APL, et...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In some embodiments, a graphical programming environment may be used to select an operation on a communications packet. Operations may include read, write, and configure. Other operations are also contemplated. In some embodiments, the graphical programming environment may include a LabVIEW interface used to program an FPGA. In some embodiments, a graphical program may be created on the computer system. The graphical program may be created or assembled by the user arranging a plurality of nodes or icons on a display and then interconnecting the nodes to create the graphical program. In response to the user assembling the graphical program, data structures may be created

Problems solved by technology

When traditional text-based programming environments are used, the user's programming skills and ability to interact with the computer system often become a limiting factor in the achievement of optimal utilization of the computer system.

There are numerous subtle complexities which a user must master before he can efficiently program a computer system in a text-based environment.

The task of programming a computer system to model or implement a process often is further complicated by the fact that a sequence of mathematical formulas, steps or other procedures customarily used to conceptually model a process often does not closely correspond to the traditional text-based programming techniques used to program a computer system to model such a process.

Since a user often is not fully proficient in techniques for programming a computer system in a text-based environment to implement his solution, the efficiency with which the computer system can be utilized often is reduced.

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